National Archives of Singapore

A weekly day off may seem commonplace today, but it was once a hard-won labour protection.

In 1950, the Weekly Holiday Ordinance required employees in shops, restaurants and theatres to be given a weekly holiday without any reduction in wages. At a time when long working hours were common, the law represented an important advance in labour protections and workers' welfare.

This photograph shows one of the ways the news was shared with the public during that era.

Do you have old photos of Bukit Batok? Family gatherings, school days, neighbourhood celebrations, or just a familiar street corner – these snapshots are a precious part of our shared history. 📸 🖼️

Bring up to 5 printed photos to Bukit Batok Library and we'll digitise them for you! You'll receive digital copies by email, and with your consent, your photos will be contributed to the Singapore Memories website.

👉🏻 Pre-registration is recommended at https://go.gov.sg/scanyouroldphotosday

In the 1960s and 70s, stepping into a lift meant being guided up and down floors by an uniformed lift attendant. 🛗

They operated the elevator doors, called out the floors, and guided shoppers through multi-storey emporiums like Robinsons and John Little; and beyond the department stores, lift attendants were also a fixture in government buildings and institutions like City Hall.

A day of compassion, reflection, and community. Happy Vesak Day. 🪷

Experience Singapore's rich history through archival recordings from the audiovisual and oral history collections of the National Archives of Singapore — now from the skies to your screen!

Museum Showcase was presented in partnership with Singapore Airlines from December 2023 to March 2026, with 18 curated archival content series covering topics such as Singapore's aviation history and life in the 1960s.

Find out more: https://go.gov.sg/museumshowcase-fb

Every year, on the 10th day of Zulhijjah — the 12th month in the Islamic calendar — Singapore's Muslim community pauses to observe Hari Raya Haji, a time of quiet reflection, peace, and compassion.

Selamat Hari Raya Haji 🌙

Our libraries and archives will be closed on Hari Raya Haji, 27 May 2026, Wednesday as well as Vesak Day, 31 May 2026, Sunday.

Do continue to check out our eBooks, eMagazines and eNewspapers via the NLB Mobile app!

Celebrate Children’s Season at the Former Ford Factory this school holidays! Immerse yourself in our galleries and hunt for the answer hidden within our displays using your activity booklet, available for collection at the counter. Once completed, present your answer to our friendly Gallery Officers to redeem your very own Former Ford Factory stamp!

Admission is free for all Singaporeans and PRs. Learn more about the Former Ford Factory here: https://go.gov.sg/csfff-fb

In 1998, Singapore made history when its first expedition team set foot on the summit of Mount Everest.

Expedition leader David Lim shares about the historic behind-the-scenes archival footage, from the treacherous "Yellow Band" to the everyday moments of team life at base camp, and explains why he chose to entrust these memories to the National Archives of Singapore.

Archiving History: The First Singapore Mount Everest Expedition 1998 | The Library Report #73 In 1998, Singapore made history when its first expedition team set foot on the summit of Mount Everest. Expedition leader David Lim shares about the historic...